My small town has 2,119 residents. I am related to half of them by marriage. My small town is giving. People look out for each other. In my town, if you want to know anything about anyone, you go to the local cafe’. You will likely hear something about yourself that even YOU didn’t know. In my town, the Friday night football games can be heard at the other side of the city limits and the South Sumter Raiders will ALWAYS reign supreme. We have 5 stop lights and three of them are set to flash yellow unless school is letting out.

In my small town, The leaves are greener. The skies are bluer and we like to move slow. The only time we deal with traffic is when one train stops to let the Tropicana train pass by. We don’t have malls and movie theaters (unless you count the drive in 20 miles away). We have a Wal Mart and a Winn Dixie. We have local business who are trying to thrive in this slow economy, and they do thrive because we are loyal. We don’t have golf courses and bowling alleys for entertainment. We have tailgates and bonfires. We don’t have wine and fancy restaraunts. We have beer and Bar-b-que. We don’t have hustle and bustle. We have time.

In my small town, the greased pig contest is the years biggest attraction, with the Couty Fair being a close second, the annual demolition derby coming in third. We like funnel cakes and hot dogs from roadside stands and we know the ONLY way to get fresh vegetables is to go to a Farmer’s Market. Yard sales line the roadsides along with wildflowers in the spring and summer. Orange Blossoms fill the air and Gardenias fight for attention. And when it’s cold outside, smoke from smoldering fires tinges the air with a pleasing scent.

There is a kinship here like no other place except other small towns just like it. Children can play in the streets with out fear of bad things. Neighbors help out neighbors and drivers pull over to let the tractors go first. We see the value of hard work and expect nothing from anyone. We are survivors, ready to defend our families and friends. We are strong, we are the backbone of this country. We are the farmers, laborers, mothers and fathers, teachers, police men and firefighters that grow our community.

This is my small town. It is where I will raise my children to respect others and value work ethic. It is where I will stay, my roots buried deep in the limerock and soil. It’s my small town, my whole life in 2.4 square miles. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love my small town.